Video: Time for another solid ad from Dr. Monica Wehby in Oregon

posted at 5:21 pm on May 8, 2014 by Guy Benson

If nothing else, the pediatric neurosurgeon who’s vying to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley in Oregon has a top flight ad team. Dr. Monica Wehby kicked off her campaign with a pair of stellar web videos; the first sought to answer the question, “who am I, and why am I running?” The second aimed to define her potential opponent by essentially asking, “who is the incumbent, and why should Oregonians replace him?” Both spots were impactful and well produced. Then came the on-air television ads. Round one featured Wehby addressing the camera directly, touting her medical background in criticizing Obamacare as a failure. Round two was a moving and positive character ad that managed to go viral in an age in which local political commercials only tend to garner national attention for hyper-negativity or bizarre gimmickry. “Trust” relied on neither, yet it’s attracted more than 113,000 YouTube views along with a burst of media accolades. Here’s round three:

“Accountability” is a more traditional contrast (ie, negative) ad than her previous offerings, but even so, it feels atypical. The overall tone is upbeat. The message is more about Wehby rolling up her sleeves and fixing a broken system than relentlessly slamming Merkley. Absent are predictable attack ad tropes like a theatrical voiceover, Halloween-style music, and grainy, unflattering images of the designated villain. Wehby hits out-of-touch unaccountable “career politicians” who are driving up the national debt and doing harm US healthcare system. When she derides Merkley and company for “still refus[ing] to admit Obamacare’s a disaster,” she’s delivering that critique in a blue state where Obamacare has been, well, a complete disaster. So much so, in fact, that the FBI is on the case. The primary election is less than two weeks away, and a new independent poll of the race shows Wehby opening up a sizable lead over her closest GOP competitor:

A Taxpayer Association of Oregon PAC poll conducted by a national pollster helps shed light on one of the most contested and anticipated U.S. Senate races in a decade. In addition to gauging where the candidates stack up the statewide poll goes a step further by looking at what issues are most important (topline, crosstabs). Here are the results: Candidate Monica Wehby has the lead in the race with 42.9% Rep. Jason Conger comes in second with 22.3%.The other candidates poll at 4% for Mark Callahan, 2.7% for Tim Crawley and 2.5% for Jo Rae Perkins. Undecideds polled at 25.5%. Monica’s advantage is her favorability which is rated at 55% favorable, Conger at 36%…The survey was conducted between May 1-4, 2014, and included 607 likely GOP Primary Election voters in Oregon. Media inquires on the poll can be made to the poll master Fritz Wenzel at Wenzel Strategies.

Allahpundit covered a Daily Caller poll released last week that measured a dead heat in a hypothetical Wehby/Merkley race. It’s premature to pull Oregon’s race into the “toss up” category based on a lone survey, but if the polling trajectory begins to show her as a bona fide threat to Merkley, Democrats will be desperate to destroy her. That won’t be easy. She’s a bright, pragmatic woman who is thus far running a disciplined and smart campaign. Wehby doesn’t come across as an ideologue who might scare away Oregon’s blue-leaning swing voters, and she’s adeptly positioning her status as a political novice as a selling point. Her disposition is reassuring and calm — sort of like a surgeon who literally saves babies for a living. As far as demagoguery targets go, Wehby poses unique challenges for the paint-by-numbers Democratic attack machine. Which is not to say that they’ll be entirely bereft of exploitable material. Her early on-air campaign is aimed just as much at casual viewers as it is at Republican partisans ahead of the primary. She’s working on boosting her favorables, and appears to be doing a hell of a job at it. For now. Even if she ultimately loses — not a foregone conclusion by any means — every dollar the DSCC is forced to spend in a state Barack Obama carried by a dozen points two years ago is a dollar they can’t spend in places like Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Michigan, and Colorado. If Wehby prevails on May 20, the ensuing general election contest could be a fascinating one to watch. Stay tuned.

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She’s not Tea Party, so I won’t support her. Better Jeff Merkeley than some RINO pro-choice sellout woman. That’s the last thing the GOP needs. The sooner conservatives write off competing in states like Oregon or Washington or Colorado or Nevada — where you have to sell out and compromise the purity of conservative principles in order to have a chance of winning — the better off we’ll be. No need to sell out to the abortionists, feminists, amnesty-pushers or homosexual lobby.

We don’t NEED to appeal to those states or those people as long as we have Ted Cruz telling truths loud and clear. “One man with a courage makes a majority” – Andrew Jackson

If nothing else, the pediatric neurosurgeon who’s vying to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley in Oregon has a top flight ad team.

These guys as a matter of fact:

The New Republican committee was founded by Alex Castellanos, a Republican political consultant known for his regular appearances on CNN. He has argued that the party needs to steal a leaf from then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, who helped form the Democratic Leadership Conference in the 1980s to pull his party back toward the political middle.

Conger says he opposes abortion, except in cases of rape, incest and to save the mother’s life.

Wehby says it should be a woman’s choice – although she’s also quick to emphasize that she’s a Catholic who is personally pro-life.

Wehby says she does oppose federal funding for abortion, although she hasn’t spelled out exactly how that could affect her voting. For example, she says she wasn’t familiar with a 2011 House-passed bill that would have withheld some federal funds from medical schools that provided abortion training – and doesn’t have a position on it.

The two are also split on same-sex marriage. Conger opposes it, believing that Oregon’s domestic partnership law adequately protects gay couples.

She’s not Tea Party, so I won’t support her. Better Jeff Merkeley than some RINO pro-choice sellout woman. That’s the last thing the GOP needs. The sooner conservatives write off competing in states like Oregon or Washington or Colorado or Nevada — where you have to sell out and compromise the purity of conservative principles in order to have a chance of winning — the better off we’ll be. No need to sell out to the abortionists, feminists, amnesty-pushers or homosexual lobby.

We don’t NEED to appeal to those states or those people as long as we have Ted Cruz telling truths loud and clear. “One man with a courage makes a majority” – Andrew Jackson

Esoteric on May 8, 2014 at 5:26 PM

Um no. So you are going to write off half of the United States? That is freaking stupid. She is a good choice for Oregon. She can appear moderate yet is calling Obamacare a disaster in a blue state. We always critize the democrats for running like a moderate and voting liberal, I think it is about damn time we start returning the favor.

She’s not Tea Party, so I won’t support her. Better Jeff Merkeley than some RINO pro-choice sellout woman. That’s the last thing the GOP needs. The sooner conservatives write off competing in states like Oregon or Washington or Colorado or Nevada — where you have to sell out and compromise the purity of conservative principles in order to have a chance of winning — the better off we’ll be. No need to sell out to the abortionists, feminists, amnesty-pushers or homosexual lobby.

We don’t NEED to appeal to those states or those people as long as we have Ted Cruz telling truths loud and clear. “One man with a courage makes a majority” – Andrew Jackson

Esoteric on May 8, 2014 at 5:26 PM

Is this a caricature? If so, it’s terrific. On the other hand, it’s a bit terrifying I really can’t tell if it’s sarcasm or not.

Which is not to say that they’ll be entirely bereft of exploitable material.

That sort of pieces -there’s one on MotherJones as well- reassures me that Wehby is the one to get the job done. They’re scared.

Um no. So you are going to write off half of the United States? That is freaking stupid. She is a good choice for Oregon. She can appear moderate yet is calling Obamacare a disaster in a blue state. We always critize the democrats for running like a moderate and voting liberal, I think it is about damn time we start returning the favor.

Please Hotair stop letting the threads about become about this twit. She dominates these threads with screeches of Trucon, and obsession for Cindy Munford, the nicest lady on here. She adds nothing of value. I would rather go back and forth with the libs on here; then watch another thread evolve into a Joana obsessed rant.

Wehby says a “fairer, flatter” tax code would spur economic growth. In an interview with The Oregonian’s editorial board, she honed in on lowering the corporate tax rate – while also eliminating some tax breaks – to spur business investment.

Wehby says Congress needs to figure out how to trim the future costs of Social Security and Medicare, the two big entitlement programs. But she’s vague on how.

…

Conger says while reform of Social Security and Medicare is “a high priority,” he thinks other areas merit attention first.

I really like her response to those questions. We have a higher corporate tax rate than FREAKING SOCIALIST FRANCE. We need to address Social Security and Medicare. My generation is going to get royally screwed by all the boomers sucking the wealth of the nation dry. They are the single biggest entitlements that need to be changed.

Conger has other priorities apparently, like rearranging deck chairs.

I also do not like the fact that Jason Conger voted for the exchange that absolutely and catastrophically failed so bad that they are moving on to the federal exchange. Why vote to help democrats at all?

Wehby also talked up greater use of the government E-Verify program that tells employers whether a job applicant is in the country legally.

YES YES YES YES YES. You can give the illegal aliens work visas, which both candidates support, but GET E-VERIFY TO STOP THIS FROM CONTINUING!!

Wehby has not definitively endorsed aproposed initiative to overturn Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage but says: “I don’t have a problem with gay marriage. … I think it’s not a government decision. I think it’s a personal decision.”

Freaking PERFECT thing to say in a blue state. Same thing with abortion. Oppose funding federally (she does) and leave it up to the states and individuals. Federalism.

Mark Callahan is the guy who was kicked out of the newspaper candidate forum last week for standing up for another candidate. Wehby did not. I watched a candidate debate between the 4 top R candidates. Wehby is not good extemporaneously. She gives unclear squishy answers. Callahan was great. Conger was slimy — he’s a pro politician. Perkins was squishy too. Crawley did not meet the fundraising/reporting criteria for the debate. Merkley did not attend. If Merkley takes Wehby on in a debate and he is any kind of politician, he will wipe the floor with Wehby unless she gets a lot, lot better. If Wehby can win this BHO style, with money and not exposing herself to debates or Q&A from the public, more power to her. I think her heart is in the right place.

She’s not Tea Party, so I won’t support her. Better Jeff Merkeley than some RINO pro-choice sellout woman. That’s the last thing the GOP needs. The sooner conservatives write off competing in states like Oregon or Washington or Colorado or Nevada — where you have to sell out and compromise the purity of conservative principles in order to have a chance of winning — the better off we’ll be. No need to sell out to the abortionists, feminists, amnesty-pushers or homosexual lobby.

We don’t NEED to appeal to those states or those people as long as we have Ted Cruz telling truths loud and clear. “One man with a courage makes a majority” – Andrew Jackson

Esoteric on May 8, 2014 at 5:26 PM

I hope this is a parody.

Decent ad, but you can tell from it that she’s very scripted, very green. I consider the latter a good thing, but I hope she is a quick study because the Dems will surely exploit it. And let’s be clear, they will drag her through the mud in the process. There is no honor among despicable pos, so I’m sure you’ll see her hit with timely malpractice suits, ethics complaints, etc.

not my state so can’t do much but her pro-choice attitude bugs me.
but since the senate is just a 6 year version of the house now (yay for the 17th /sarc) her beliefs could affect me.
she does have a lot of good points though.

Please Hotair stop letting the threads about become about this twit. She dominates these threads with screeches of Trucon, and obsession for Cindy Munford, the nicest lady on here. She adds nothing of value. I would rather go back and forth with the libs on here; then watch another thread evolve into a Joana obsessed rant.
melle1228 on May 8, 2014 at 5:40 PM

I agree that Cindy is great. I have never seen her be anything but respectful and thoughtful in her posts. She is never nasty to anyone that I’ve seen.

At the same time I believe Joana is very smart and expresses herself forcefully and effectively. Wish she wouldn’t antagonize all the time with her “you crazies!” line, but then the issue with antagonizing goes both ways. I know she gets it from the regulars here, too. Obviously the antagonizing and insulting back and forth won’t stop. This is a political comment section, after all.

But what bothers me the most is the unwarranted negativity towards Cindy.

She might play here, but it’ll depend a lot on how she manages to do in the primary. If she ends up breaking the moderate image to skate through she’s toast in the general. If she can get by with the deep pockets funneling her enough money and not commit to anything even vaguely tea-partyish then she has a chance.

Of course if things go the way I think they will with the ACA she’s going to be sunk either way.

Of course if things go the way I think they will with the ACA she’s going to be sunk either way.

Tlaloc on May 8, 2014 at 6:51 PM

If you meant by that statement that Obamacare is going to be viewed positively at any point, you will be waiting a very long time. They have illegally delayed so much of it that should it be fully implemented as written, you would have a full on revolt in the US.

In fact, the continuing negative impacts on health insurance in this country from Obamacare, and especially with the employers getting ready to dump their employees onto the crappy exchange plans, I see Wehby coasting to victory over Merkley in November.

That said, unless our imperial president gets us into a war with Russia/Iran/China before then.

I’ll say this about her. She doesn’t sound crazy. The GOP has a habit of snatching defeat out the jaws of sure victory when their nominee decides to challenge the idea that she’s a witch or some old white guy rambling on about how women don’t get pregnant from rape.

It’s Oregon so we know that she’s not apt to be a real conservative but chalking up an “R” in a deep blue state would be awesome. Besides, Susan Collins must be feeling lonely these days. Time to bolster the coven.

I’m pro life too. However, living in a liberal area, I can’t remember the last time I had a chance to vote for someone who was pro life.

In this case, Merkley is 100% pro abortion, so it’s not as though Oregonians will have a pro life candidate for Senate if she wins the primary.

This is a no brainer. I believe it was Reagan who said he would rather have someone he agreed with 80% of the time, than none of the time.

Not only that, but you are essentially writing off a big chunk of the country but giving up on the Pacific coast states, not to mention states like NY, IL, and so on, that are hopelessly blue. I’m sick and tired of “moderate” Ds winning red states, and Rs having no chance in blue states. About time we flipped one.

For the RINOs here. This RINO candidate may be acceptable in Oregon, and a conservative may not be able to win in a blue state. But by golly, there is no reason why we should have RINOs in Red states like SC,(Graham), Ky. (McConnell), Texas(Cornyn), NC(Burr and before Hagan, Lizzie Dole), to name just a few. I could live with and in some cases even support RINOs in blue states. But, we have far too many RINOs in Red states and pink states. And that goes for the congress critters as well.

I like Dr Wehby fine – but – I remember several very nice, moderate, bright, competent people who got stomped for no logical reason by democrat pinheads. Dave Frohnmeyer. Molly Bordinaro. Goli Ameri lost to David Wu after Wu effectively admitted he once raped a girl. Our current Sec State, non-entity Kate Brown, beat a popular TV sportscaster and State Senator after a campaign apparently run by kindergärtners. Never underestimate the power of the D after the name.

Reading up the thread, I will never understand why some people hold onto the mistaken assumption that they will somehow find a political candidate that agrees with them on every single issue – and, worse, not vote for anyone, or else waste their vote on someone who has no chance in Hell of winning (i.e., Libertarian Party candidates) just because they want to “make their voice heard” or something. Democrats laugh at us, long and loud, for being so fractured.

Others much smarter than me have reminded Righties many times over that the path to change is not traveled by waiting until your own political “saviour” steps onto the stage; rather, it’s up to the individual voter to become active enough politically so that whomever the politician happens to be, he or she will have enough incentives to legislate the way voters wish. Think this doesn’t happen? Leftists understand it well. Or do you forget that the crowned “queen” of the Democrats said this, of a candidate Dems were squishy about back in 2004:

Even with being active, we won’t win them all. But the old saying of picking one’s battles holds true. And by not picking any battle to fight, just because the “perfect” politician hasn’t walked onto the stage yet, means we are guaranteed to win nothing.

Case in point. Was Scott Brown squishy, when it comes to conservative, limited government principles? Hell yes. But he was just enough, at the right time, to prevent a supermajority in the Senate from shoving Obamacare down everyone’s throat in a way that appeared legal. We still got Obamacare, but in ways that put the lie to consensus and reek of procedural gamesmanship. It stank back then, it stinks now, and each day it continues to stink more and more. Brown had a considerable part to play in this, and regardless of some items on his record, we should be thankful.

So please, don’t just vote. Vote smart. And don’t stop being active politically once you cast your vote, because no matter who is in office, they quickly forget the people who put them there – unless politically active voters work diligently to restrain them, time and time again.

Let the voters know that it was their money the state threw away with their failed Ocare exchange. Maybe if people understand it’s their dough being tossed away, they’ll pay attention and give a heck. We need some better reps in DC to get us out of this socialist fascist mess.